Not just men.Women, too, especially when you’re talking about one named Rachel Griffin. “Mom, I think you’ve monopolized enough of her time.”
“Monopolized? I did no such—”
“Uh-huh. Come on. Let’s talk about this elsewhere,” I say, not wanting to further impose on a stranger—and not wanting her to know any more about whatever embarrassing man-drama Mom has gotten herself into. This will not end with mere whining. It’ll end with her getting drunk and doing something stupid, ostensibly to get over her trauma. I do not need Mom finishing three bottles of vodka and executing a naked cannonball into the pool. The last time she did it, she lost consciousness and sank like a rock, and a guy had to pull her out and perform CPR. She dated the man for rescuing her for a couple of weeks before she got bored and moved on. I saw every excruciating photo and tabloid article about it because she sent them to me with a pride only she could fathom.
“Do you want to sit down, too?” Mom asks, not hearing anything from my mouth she doesn’t want to hear.
Oh, for God’s sake.“No. I want to take you into the house so we can discuss this in private.”
Resentment flashes over Mom’s face. She won’t go quietly, not when it means losing her audience. Fluid gathers, beading in the corners of her eyes. “I know you’re going to side with Calvin.”
“I literally have no clue who Calvin is.”
“No clue? But I’ve told you about him many times.”
“I’m sure you haven’t.” I put my hand under her arm and pull her up.
Mom resists, but she’s no match for me. I haul her up without much effort.
“Wait a minute.” The woman next to Mom looks at me as though I’m a monster.
“What?” It comes out snappier than I want.
“She’s your mother. You could be a little nicer.”
I give her a thin smile. “Lady, I’m trying to save you here. So why don’t you go say hi to all the important movie people so you can get yourself a role and leave us alone?”
She gasps, her cheeks turning pink. Her faux outrage doesn’t bother me. Preventing Mom from making a spectacle of herself and embarrassing me does.
Before the woman can complain, I pull Mom away and into the house. Where’s a sinkhole when you need one?